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Frustrated with the sound of my system

Here is my system:
Rotel RCD-965BX CD Player as transport
MSB Link 2 DAC
Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 Signature preamp
Classe 10 amplifier
North Creek Audio Borealis speakers (Custom built kit speaker...something close to a Proac Response 2.5 design)
M&K V-75 sub
Kimber and Cardas interconnects
Kimber 4TC/8TC bi-wire speaker cables.

Here is my frustration:
The sound, regardless of music, sounds stringent, hard, really lacks air, and is anything but relaxed. It is fatigueing. I can listen to my Grado 60 headphones on an iPod and the sound is frustratingly more relaxed and has what I would call air.

I don't think that my system is that outstanding, but it really seems like I should be more pleased with what I am hearing.

I would be interested in your thoughts on where the most likely opportunity is. I really like the individual components of the system (OK the Rotel/MSB set up is old and just OK), but all together they seem to be underwhelming. I am thinking it is either in improving the digital front end (new player or DAC) or moving to a planar speaker to get the sound I desire. I have thought about new player like an OPPO 93 or 95, perhaps a tube based player or DAC, or else looking at something like a used pair of Maggie 12's or 1.6's. I have always enjoyed the Maggie sound.

In either case I am thinking that $2k is the absolute max I would want to spend on any solution. Thanks in advance. If there are other questions I would be glad to supply details.
stuartbmw3
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
That Rotel is the first thing that needs replacing. Mine is gathering dust.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Throw the bums out and spend more dough before taking the room out of the equation by a nearfield set-up to see? This cost nothing and should be very telling if it is the room or system synergy and is the FIRST thing that should be done, come on guys why spend money on a hit or miss crapshoot, it doesn't make sense at this point.
turboglo
110 posts
 
I'm not sure I understand the contentious debate between those focussing on placement/treatment issues and those focussing on equipment issues. It seems pretty obvious that neither good equipment set-up poorly, nor bad equipment set-up optimally, is going to shine.
kiwi2
19 posts
 
Room placement costs nothing and could be all that the problem is. Buying new gear may or may not solve the problem and would be $$$ down the drain if that is the case.

I know I can make my system sound very detailed and bright but rather clinical and cold... or I can make it sound warm and organic and natural, depending where in the room I place the speakers and listening position. It's such a difference that you wouldn't believe they were the same speakers.

Once you learn to measure the room's response, these differences begin to make sense and you can see what is going on and why.

The best gear in the world would still sound bad if poorly integrated into a room. Learning to get the best sound possible out of the gear you already have will reveal if you do indeed still need new gear... and when you do get new gear... that you will get the best out of it.
arbuckle
89 posts
 
As Mike60 tried to say what I did, you people need to re-read the OPs equipment. I as well as others have attested to owning some items in his list and all of us have identified problems with somewhere on that list. Those screaming to treat the room are doing so apparently without understanding the gear. Much of that gear is very old and when it was new, at least I never got the best sound from it, despite my room. I had always been able to hear discernable changes, all for the better, when upgrading and leaving the room completely ALONE.

I again will recommend an amp and cable change as I mentioned above. The Forte from Mike60 is a Nelson Pass design and in the same veign as my recommendation for an older Aleph3 or 30.

Again, as others have said, rooms can make a difference but in my experience have always served as tweaks to refine the sound, not totally change the sound. I too have bass busters and corner busters now sitting in my closet as I found no change in the sound. I actually wonder if the OP is getting any benefit from these posts or if this is more a room vs. gear debate?

If anyone wants to buy my bass busters or corner busters send me a note. There appears to be enough room fanatics on this thread someone must need them.
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